Exclusive: Panel on dissolution of joint-ownership of LAUTECH submits reports

• Evaluates the institution assets at N100bn
The forced marriage between Oyo and Osun States governments that gave birth to the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, may soon be divorced as panel set up by both state governments to look at the peaceful and acceptable dissolution of the relationship has submitted their report at the weekend.
Our sources disclosed that the panel put the value of the assets and liabilities of the institution at N100 billion and that what remains now is for the Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is to agree on what the panel has submitted.
The panel which was said to have done good jobs of proper auditing of the physical and other assets of the institution included the details of the sharing formulae of the assets and liabilities of the school among the two state states.
LAUTECH was originally established on April 23, 1990 as Oyo State University of Technology, but creation of Osun from Oyo in August 1991 led to the change of the institution’s name to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, with the two states having joint ownership over it.
While the ownership crisis was averagely and maturely managed during the progressives’ governments in both Osun and Oyo states, it has always been a different ball game when the governors of both states are not from the same political party.
Oyo Government and Ogbomoso, the hosting community of the institution in particular have not for once ceased from mounting pressures on Osun to withdraw from LAUTECH’s joint ownership through some legitimate actions and sometimes blackmails and manipulations.
However, the ownership crisis might be put to an end in no distant time, if the ongoing discussions between the two owner-states are successful.
Oyo State Government had last week disclosed that the dissolution of the joint ownership of LAUTECH was almost done.
The Commissioner for Education in the state, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye stated this last Friday while receiving a delegation from the Ladoke Akintola Foundation in his office.
Olaleye reportedly said: “The process of the dissolution of the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is in its concluding stage.”
This is coming eight months after the inauguration of five-man committee set up by Governor Seyi Makinde to come up with concrete steps to help terminate the joint ownership of LAUTECH with Osun.
Makinde said Oyo State bore no grudge against Osun over the situation in the institution, but noted that it was obvious that the joint ownership of the institution by the two states could no longer work.
Osun State Government has already spoke on its readiness to discontinue the LAUTECH joint ownership if a mutual consensus is reached with the Oyo State Government.
The Commissioner for Education in the state, Hon Folorunso Oladoyin in a recent press interview disclosed that discussions were ongoing between the owner-states where issues of ownership and the future of the ivory tower were being raised.
According to him, the State of Osun would cease as joint owner of the citadel of learning when Oyo State agrees to its terms and conditions.
“We have been on the joint ownership crisis of LAUTECH for long. It became pronounced in 2010. We continued to manage the crisis and it was possible because Oyo and Osun were being ruled by governors of the same political party. Now, Governor Seyi Makinde said he does not want us again. Can you force yourself on somebody who does not want you? Is it possible?
“We appealed to him to let us continue together and he said no. Oyo has over 90 percent of the University on its soil and they say they do not want us anymore, and sometimes possessions can be stronger than ownership, even in Law.
“The National Universities Commission (NUC) came in to mediate, but Oyo insisted it does not want us anymore. And we said if you don’t want us again, put your terms and conditions on the table. If they are in tandem with ours, then we would agree to walk away.
“If it is not acceptable, we will tell them. It is a 29-year old investment. If the two of us put our conditions on the table, then we can come to a conclusion. If we cannot come to a conclusion and there is need to go to an arbiter, so be it.”
“It is an elementary principle of law about a willing partner and an unwilling one. What Oyo has so far been doing is that of an unwilling partner. They have put on the framework to look into everything. Let them put their terms and conditions on the table, if it is acceptable to us, we would gladly walk away.
“But bear it in mind that we will not throw away a 29-year-investment just like that. The terms and conditions for separation must be mutually accepted. We will not be arm-twisted and we will not be short-changed.
“The terms of separation must be fully accepted by both sides. Nobody will push us out, nobody will kick us out. If we must leave at all, it must be on terms and conditions that are mutually acceptable.”
When asked what Osun stands to gain in dissolving the LAUTECH joint ownership, Oladoyin said: “We have been holding series of meetings. It is premature to tell the press what we stand to gain if the separation is finally agreed. We are not doing anything in secrecy.
“Whenever we conclude, we would let the public know what we have done and what Osun is benefitting from the process. Nothing is being done in secret. All I can tell you is that the process to look at LAUTECH holistically is ongoing. We have set up a framework to look at LAUTECH, the Joint ownership, continuation of joint ownership and the severance of joint ownership. We will look at the two and weigh them. Whichever is in our best interest, we will adopt.”
Not long ago, there was a royal call for the dissolution of the marriage as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi had stated that the joint ownership of LAUTECH could not work, calling on the two states to put an end to the joint ownership of the institution.
According to Oba Adeyemi, the joint ownership of LAUTECH is the source of persistent crises rocking the university, adding that the issue over the years had undermined the progress of the institution.
The traditional ruler stated that the differences in political parties, ideologies and policies of both states will not allow the two state governors to agree on some issues that affect the university.
He said: “Two states cannot manage one university successfully. Even when they are from the same political party, they will have different policies.
“The education policies introduced by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola have been cancelled by Oyetola. So, there is no way the two states can manage the university successfully”.
He urged Governors Oyetola and Seyi Makinde of Osun and Oyo states to consider ceding the university to either of them and end the joint ownership agreement in the interest of the students and the general public.
Going by history, the conception of the University began in 1987 when Governor Adetunji Olurin, the then Military Governor of Oyo State, responding to a letter from the Governing Council of the Polytechnic Ibadan set up a seven member inter-ministerial committee under the chairperson of Mrs. Oyinkan Ayoola. The Committee submitted its report in 1988 and recommended the establishment of a State University.
In response to their submission, a 15-member committee of distinguished academicians under the chairmanship of Professor J. A. Akinpelu was inaugurated to further deliberate on the matter. The committee again retained the earlier verdict of the necessity for a new University in the then Oyo State. Several other committees, notably that of the Archdeacon (Dr) E. O. Alayande also deliberated on the viability of an Oyo State University.
Then in October 1989, an inter-ministerial committee set up by the Governor, Col. Sasaenia Adedeji Oresanya under the Chairperson of Mrs. Lydia Oyewumi Abimbola the State Commissioner for Education by then, conclusively approved the idea and launched the Higher Education Development Appeal Fund of the University. A total Sum of N19m was realized in both cash and pledges from the launching ceremonies conducted in the State Capital and in the 42 Local Government Areas of the State. Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola who was the chief launcher, donated a total sum of N2.05 million.
On the 9th of February 1990, the Abimbola Administerial committee established a Technical Committee of distinguished Academics chaired by Prof. (Chief) E. A. Tugbiyele to formulate the blue print for the infrastuctures and administration of the new University. The committee submitted its report, on 12th April 1990, to the Government who approved it immediately. On 13th March, 1990 the Federal Military Government had acceded to the State’s request to set up the new University. Col. Oresanya later signed the Edict Establishing the University on 23rd April, 1990. He also announced on 2nd May, 1990 the Appointment of Professor Olusegun Ladimeji Oke, a distinguished Chemist and a Fellow of Academy of Science (FAS) as the first Vice-Chancellor of the University.
In addition, the names of the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade and other members of the first Governing Council were announced on 28th May, 1990 and Col. Sasaenia Oresanya himself became the foundation Visitor to the University. Later Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola became the first Chancellor in January, 1991 with the approval of the succeeding visitor, Col. Abdulkarim Adisa. The first meeting of the University Governing Council was held on 7th June 1990, the first Senate meeting was convened on 13th February, 1991, the first Academic session began on 19th October 1990 with a total number of 436 candidates were offered admission to various courses in four faculties namely Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Management Sciences, and Pure and Applied Sciences.
The establishment of the College of Health Sciences was postponed for a year and later took effect in October 1991 with a student population of thirty (30). Arising from the creation of Osun State from the former Oyo State, the name of the University was changed from Oyo State University of Technology to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and the Edict that established the University was appropriately amended.